Hilton Sequeira trained Princess Daka came up with a sensational run from way off the pace to lift the 1200 metres Dodla Pratap Chander Teddy Memorial Million, a terms race for two-year-olds, the feature event of Saturday’s Hyderabad races. Most of the horses in the fray appeared raw and ran green. The verdict was clinched by Princess Daka who got a run along the rails which also helped her cause as those in front were running all over the place.

Srinivas Reddy trained Arabian Queen was widely reckoned to be the best prepared among the horses which were making their debut and cornered one-sided support close to race time. Ashoka showed a lot of speed to lead the fray but in the final furlong, a host of horses including Superlative, Galway Bay and Arabian Queen joined the issue. However, these horses were rolling over each other and even as the jockeys were struggling to keep them on an even keel, Princess Daka warmed up to the task from the rear position, rallied well and closer home, asserted her supremacy in the hands of jockey Akshay Kumar.

Last start winner Show Me Your Walk won the 1400 metres Sri Shamlal Gupta Memorial Cup, a race for horses rated 40 to 65. The Sequeira trainee led all the way and managed to stay put even as Chuckit closed with a rush. Southern Princess who was the firm favourite had all the chances but didn’t quicken under pressure but was a close third.

Trainer Ravinder Singh won both the divisions of the Mahabubnagar Plate, a race for horses in the lowest category for owner Chitturi Krishna Kannaiah. Hashtag was quoted at fancy odds as all the money came on Srinivas Reddy trained Winning Player who was never in the reckoning. Hashtag who came home with a powerful run had the race sewn up a long way from home with an assertive performance. Theo’s Choice and Solo Winner occupied the next slots on the frame. The lower division of the race was claimed by Thunder Road who was all set to win on the last occasion but dropped its jockey when in control of the race because the horse shied away when a dog ran across the track. Backed to the exclusion of the rest, Thunder Road led all the way and provided jockey Akshay Kumar with an easy win. Stablemate Sea Wolf was second while Hip Hop nosed out Sorry Darling to snatch the third position. Incidentally, Thunder Road is also partly owned by leading Telugu star Venkatesh Daggubati and his brother Suresh, new entrants to the sport of horse racing.

In a three-horse finish, Sequeira trained Lifes Song just about managed to put her nose in front in the 1400 metres Windscale Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. NRI Sport led the way but inside the final furlong was joined by Lifes Song and Bold Bidding. The three fought all the way with Life Song putting her head in front at the all-important end. Able Love came from way off the pace and finished a close fourth, the verdict being a short head, neck and a short head between the first four placed horses. Shiraz Sunderji trained Intense Approach came up with a smooth acceleration down the final furlong and managed to collar the front-running City of Blessing to record an easy win. Mauser ran on to save place money.

Nikhil Naidu drove out Galwan to stave off the late bid of Morior Invictus to land the spoils in the 1400 metres Brave Dancer Plate (Div I), a race for horses rated 20 to 45. Galwan came up with a flourishing run in the final furlong and surged ahead with 100 metres left in the race and just about lasted out to win from Morior Invictus who was full of running at the finish. Quality Warrior nosed out Grand Finale to save place money. The well-fancied Malala from the stables of Laxman Singh had no problem in winning the lower division of the race having the race for herself all the way in the final furlong. Beauty Flame, Despang and RNI Touch finished in close proximity in the order mentioned.